Maintenance Engineering’s Old Number One Frank Grendler discusses “The Natural Born Salesperson”

We’ve all heard about “Natural born salespeople who could sell ice cubes to Eskimos.” I’ve been lucky enough to meet a few of these in my lifetime. A couple “Naturals” I remember worked for M.E. in the late 70′s, they are both retired now. What I learned from them is well worth passing on. Both wrote $150,000+ in the field when 110 watt light bulbs were $1.29 each and 4′ Coolwhite fluorescent were $3.69 each. Both of these salespeople lived in sparsely populated areas, one was overwight and tended to be a bit long winded too. The other was famous for his “Crashes” when he got mentally down and failed to write much business. You can see they were “Natural born salespeople” like all of us they possessed certain shortcomings, but because they were hard working , persistent and creative they overcame their liabilities and became the standard by which the rest of the sales force was judged. One’s pitch was simple, “Maintenance Engineering has great productsand that’s why we tell our story to everyone.” The other when he reeived his award at our Sales Convention said, “Pride, courage, energy, discipline, enthusiasm, and work.” Then he sat down, these words have been part of the Maintenance Engineering legacy ever since.

Next time we think of “Natural born salespeople” it wouble be good to remember the lessons of these two great salespeople of the past. By looking in the mirror we can all see a great salesperson if we are willing to put forth the effort to achieve that goal.

Frank Grendler



Maintenance Engineering

Maintenance Engineering President Curt Kesselring “Give It Forward!”

Christmas is my favorite time of the year! One of my many reasons for liking Christmas is the transformational effect it has on everyone. Total strangers wish you a Merry Christmas with genuine good wishes. I think that they, like I do, think of them and their family as I say Merry Christmas!

I’d like to ask everyone to join me in “Giving it Forward.” Everyone has heard of “Paying it Forward”; this is the same except we exchange the Christmas Spirit for money or material goods. In 2011, I ask that everyone continue their “Christmas transformation” by starting out every day by brightening the day of every person you meet; a cheerful greeting, a compliment, or a charitable act. Leave every person more positive than when you met them. Joe Labbadia one told me that his goal is to create such a positive reaction in a stranger that they will remember him.

The best thing about “Giving it Forward.” is the payback you receive. In order for you to do this you must first create that positive spirit within yourself. You can’t give something that you don’t have so this concept results in your being positive and energized with the Christmas Spirit everyday all day long! Give it forward and it will pay you back.

Join me and we’ll have a nationwide impact. People we come in contact with will be uplifted and unconsciously join us in “Giving it Forward” to the next person they meet! Together we can make America more positive and we all know what positive people can and will accomplish.

Happy New Year and Give it Forward!

Curt Kesselring

Maintenance Engineering Vice President Dennis Leno “2011 GOAL SETTING”

As one of America’s top motivators, Zig Ziglar has those gems in his talks that you had better take seriously. One of those gems is his quote, ” A goal written is a goal half achieved!”

Why do you think that is? Well, let me give you a few more quotes that might answer that question.

- “You have to have goals to get you excited and deadlines to make you run.”- Ben Feldman

- “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”- W. Clement Stone

- “Write out your goals everyday in the past tense as if they have already been achieved.” -Dr. Maxwell Maltz

These great authors and motivators understand the old adage, “You don’t have goals until your goals have you.”

In fact, President Kesselring has said many times, “If you have to look at your goals to remember them, then they’re really not a goal.”

For 2011, I challenge you to do something really special for yourself. Set a goal that really excites you and challenges you. To do that, give it some thought. Write out your goals. Spend some time them. Your career and this opportunity deserves some extra planning time for 2011.

A Happy and Profitable New Year Everyone!

Dennis Leno


Vice President Maintenance Engineering

Maintenance Engineering Eyes Of A Child Christmas Giveaway